Monday, December 07, 2009

Luke Kibet of Kenya made good on his pre-race prediction Sunday by shattering his own course record to win the men's title at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

In the women's category, Albina Mayarova Ivanova of Russia edged out fellow Russian and race favorite Lyubov Morgunova to win the US$35,000 prize in a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 49 seconds.

There were no surprises in the men's field as Kibet managed to shrug off challenges from fellow Kenyans to clock in at 2:11:25, smashing last year's mark of 2:13:01.

Kibet, whose personal best is 2:08:52 he achieved in 2005, took charge from the start at Esplanade Bridge in Raffles Quay.

He kept pace with the leading group, with countryman Vincent Krop following closely.

Krop dropped off the pace before the final 3 kilometers, leaving Kibet and compatriot Johnstone Chepkwony to slog it out to the finish.

After pulling away form Krop, Chepkwony, who finished only two minutes behind Kibet in last year's race, gave the defending champion a run for his money by overtaking him several times during the last few minuets, before Kibet pulled a last and deciding dash toward the finish line.

Chepkwony finished eight seconds behind, while Krop finished third with a time of 2:11:51.

"I came here from Kenya to see if I can break my own record and I did it," Kibet said after the medal ceremony, dedicating the win to his children. "I know that we are all strong men in the race and I must fight for the finish.

"To win a race is not a joke, and the race is getting more and more competitive," he went on.

"Last year I was running alone in the front, but this year we ran together in the group."

Over in the women's field, Ivanova made her attack at the 12-kilometer point, to pull ahead of Morgunova and win the race.

Morgunova had to be content with a time of 2:34:49, with Mary Akor Beasley from the United States coming in third at 2:36:44.

"This is one of the most successful day in my life," Ivanova, mother of 2-year-old and three-month-old girls, said afterward.

"During the run I controlled my pace and I controlled the distance with the runners in front of me so I didn't have any doubt that I would catch them later," she said, adding she had not been at 100 percent fitness for the run, after delivering her baby.

Her time was five minutes off her personal best of 2:27:00, clocked up in the Chicago Marathon in 2003.

Race day also featured the half marathon, won by Kenya's Richard Mutua Mutisya in the men's category and Australia's Anna Thompson in the women's.

Luke Kibet of Kenya made good on his pre-race prediction Sunday by shattering his own course record to win the men's title at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

In the women's category, Albina Mayarova Ivanova of Russia edged out fellow Russian and race favorite Lyubov Morgunova to win the US$35,000 prize in a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 49 seconds.

There were no surprises in the men's field as Kibet managed to shrug off challenges from fellow Kenyans to clock in at 2:11:25, smashing last year's mark of 2:13:01.

Kibet, whose personal best is 2:08:52 he achieved in 2005, took charge from the start at Esplanade Bridge in Raffles Quay.

He kept pace with the leading group, with countryman Vincent Krop following closely.

Krop dropped off the pace before the final 3 kilometers, leaving Kibet and compatriot Johnstone Chepkwony to slog it out to the finish.

After pulling away form Krop, Chepkwony, who finished only two minutes behind Kibet in last year's race, gave the defending champion a run for his money by overtaking him several times during the last few minuets, before Kibet pulled a last and deciding dash toward the finish line.

Chepkwony finished eight seconds behind, while Krop finished third with a time of 2:11:51.

"I came here from Kenya to see if I can break my own record and I did it," Kibet said after the medal ceremony, dedicating the win to his children. "I know that we are all strong men in the race and I must fight for the finish.

"To win a race is not a joke, and the race is getting more and more competitive," he went on.

"Last year I was running alone in the front, but this year we ran together in the group."

Over in the women's field, Ivanova made her attack at the 12-kilometer point, to pull ahead of Morgunova and win the race.

Morgunova had to be content with a time of 2:34:49, with Mary Akor Beasley from the United States coming in third at 2:36:44.

"This is one of the most successful day in my life," Ivanova, mother of 2-year-old and three-month-old girls, said afterward.

"During the run I controlled my pace and I controlled the distance with the runners in front of me so I didn't have any doubt that I would catch them later," she said, adding she had not been at 100 percent fitness for the run, after delivering her baby.

Her time was five minutes off her personal best of 2:27:00, clocked up in the Chicago Marathon in 2003.

Race day also featured the half marathon, won by Kenya's Richard Mutua Mutisya in the men's category and Australia's Anna Thompson in the women's.

Defending champion, Kenyan Luke Kibet, hopes tougher challenge from the field this year will push him to break the record in Sunday's Standard Chartered Singaporean Marathon.

He set a course record of 2 hours 13 minutes and 1 second to win last year's run and is back to defend his title despite being troubled by an Achilles tendon injury suffered in March.

"I'm here to defend my title. I'm well prepared for the race tomorrow," the 27-year-old runner told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The injury prompted him to take part in only two races since, the London Marathon in April and a 10-mile run in Portsmouth.

"I want to break the course record. Last year I was running alone. Hopefully with a stronger field this year to push me, I can go for 2:13 to 2:12."

Kibet's personal best time is 2:08:52, which he achieved in October 2005 in Eindhoven where he finished third.

The humidity will pose a problem, Kenyan veteran David Kiprono Langat believes.

"Your sweat doesn't evaporate fast enough and your body will not cool down so quickly," he told reporters.

However, Kibet said he had prepared for the adversity.

"I have run several races in Asia with similar humidity. I know everybody's looking for the *prize* money, but I'm here for the run. I'm looking to break my record tomorrow," said the prison guard who won the 2005 and 2006 Taipei Marathon.

The National Environment Agency has forecast showers with thunder Sunday morning. The city was hit by a downpour Saturday evening.

As many as 56 top runners, almost 30 of whom come from marathon powerhouse Kenya, will be at the starting line at the famous Esplanade Bridge, Raffles Quay, at 5.30 a.m.

The elites will be joined by 50,000 running enthusiasts for the day race which is split into a 42,2-kilometer marathon, a half-marathon, a 10-kilometer wheelchair race and the 750-meter run for children.